Ludlow's baseball win over Belchertown adds to second-place chase in Suburban League

Everybody deserves a second chance. In the Suburban League, everyone that needs one has one.

Second place in the league carries with it an automatic baseball playoff berth, a fact that gives Northampton, Ludlow and South Hadley an opportunity to qualify by simply winning the rest of their league games.

The Blue Devils can clinch a spot by winning two of their last three as well, but the Lions and Tigers must finish second. All this became possible when Ludlow bested visiting Belchertown 9-8 on Tuesday, scoring a run on the bottom of the seventh after the Orioles has pushed across six in the top of the frame to tie the game.

East Longmeadow (17-1, 6-0) has already won the league, which features an eight-game schedule. Ludlow (4-13, 3-4), Belchertown (11-7, 3-4), Northampton (8-9, 2-4) and South Hadley (5-11, 2-4) all have four losses, so any team that wins out in league play is guaranteed no worse than a second-place finish. The Orioles have already clinched a spot in the Division II tournament, the same one the Tigers would land in if they qualify.

Seth Regnier had three hits and five RBIs to lead Ludlow. He had a two-run double in the first, a run-scoring single in the second and a two-run single in the third to help Ludlow built a 9-1 lead through five.

Belchertown scored once in the sixth before tying it in the seventh. Jeff Grossman and Bryan Eldridge had RBI singles in the last rally, and a double steal produced the tying run.

Steve Bates (RBI) and Jake Flynn had three hits apiece for the Lions, who had 13. Cody Brown had three hits and an RBI to lead the Orioles.

HAMPSHIRE
RACE STILL ON: Greenfield, Pioneer and Mahar posted wins as the Hampshire League race continues to be a free-for-all.

Greenfield (14-4, 11-4) leads the way, but Pioneer (14-4, 10-4) remains even in the loss column. Mahar (13-6, 11-5), Mohawk (12-6, 10-5) and Hopkins (12-6, 9-6) are the other contenders. Teams play 16 league games.

Andy Wroblewski hit a solo homer to highlight Greenfield 15-0, five-inning win at Turners. John Keir turned in an excellent relief effort, and Alex Towne had two hits and two RBIs as Pioneer held off Hopkins 8-7. Burke Bonneville hit a grand slam to pull Hopkins within one run in the sixth inning.

BI-COUNTY
Sci-Tech 7, Southwick 6: Michael Beltran's infield single plated the winning run in the top of the eighth as Sci-Tech (13-6, 10-4) won at Southwick (5-11, 5-9).

Hiram Lopez hit a three-run homer for Sci-Tech.

Ben Gibbons hit a two-run homer as Southwick scored four times in the last of the seventh to knot the game.

Mike Ratchford's RBI double and Dave Jones' RBI single followed the homer.

Ware 14, Gateway 3: Chad Adams hit for the cycle, finishing 4 for 4 with four RBIs as host Ware (16-1, 13-1) beat Gateway (10-8, 6-7). Chris Guzik added three hits and five RBIs, and Steve Siller added two hits and three RBIs.

TRI-COUNTY NORTH
Westfield Voc-Tech 5, Granby 1: Jeff Fanion had three hits and two RBIs, and Lucas Cimmino fanned five as part of a four-hitter to lead Westfield Voc-Tech (13-4, 8-3) past visiting Granby (14-3, 10-2).

OTHER GAMES: Sam Farnsworth hit a three-run homer as St. Mary (15-3, 9-0) registered a 11-1 win over Putnam (4-15, 4-6) and clinched a share of the Tri-County South title; Mike Garcia and Alex Rodriguez had two hits and one RBI apiece as Commerce (8-11, 5-5) beat visiting Dean Tech (5-14, 2-8) by 5-1 in the Tri-County South; John Bednaz and Jonathan Normand hit two-run homers to lead Sabis (12-7, 8-1) over visiting Pioneer Valley Christian (1-14, 1-9) in another Tri-County South; Matt Gilbert had three hits, and Jon Vershon pitched a four-hitter as Easthampton (5-14) won 7-5 over independent foe Holyoke Catholic (5-13); Matt Dziok and Mike Konarski had three hits and three RBIs apiece as Hampshire (4-13) posted a 19-1 win over independent Renaissance (0-12) in five innings.